Does my cladding need to be removed?

With Safer Buildings, you are in safe hands

Safer Buildings Group has expert technical knowledge of external wall cladding systems. We are also specialists in fire engineering, sample testing and remediation management for buildings with combustible cladding. Just as importantly, we have expert professional understanding of the requirements of the new legislation that came into effect on 1 October 2018, the Building and Other Legislation (Cladding) Amendment Regulation 2018 (Qld). Our service promise is to protect the safety of your property and the people who occupy it.

First things first: Does your building have potentially combustible cladding?

Contact us today for an expert appraisal of the external cladding on your building. Where potentially combustible cladding materials are identified on the building, we will identify suitable sampling locations and collect the necessary samples. Next, through analytical testing, we investigate the chemical composition and fire performance of any potentially combustible materials used on your building’s external façade. Our fire engineers will evaluate the building’s approval pathway and fire safety systems used, coupled with information from the laboratory testing, to evaluate the perceived risk from external fire spread, if any. Finally, we deliver you with a building fire safety risk assessment report that outlines any perceived fire risks associated with your cladding according to the new regulation and the requirements of the QBCC.

Yes, my building’s cladding is combustible: What do I do next?

So, you have received our building fire safety risk assessment report which confirms your building is an effected building – that is, it has combustible cladding attached to the external wall. While our report will outline recommendations on the best way forward, you have a number of options at this point, including:

Do nothing (in Queensland, there is currently no legislated requirement to complete building work which will rectify the combustible cladding issue, or to implement interim risk measures; these are voluntary actions, although you do have a legislated duty of care obligation to ensure the safety of all building users)
Undertake further fire engineering assessment
Implement interim risk mitigations (as required)
Rectify the combustible cladding material, with either:
- Partial replacement/remediation
- Full replacement/remediation

Safer Buildings Group will guide you through those options so that you can make prudent and informed decisions for the protection of your building and its occupants.

The recommendations in the report are preliminary, meaning we will need to undertake further fire engineering assessment. We will prepare a fire engineering brief (an outline of non-compliance issues to be resolved and potential fire engineering solutions) and the final fire engineering report and development application, which can be submitted to the building certifier. Throughout the process we will liaise with and negotiate with numerous stakeholders, including local government and referral agencies such as the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.

Depending on the size of the project, we may need to also complete a feasibility study before the development application is lodged. We do this to ensure the optimal building design is selected (e.g., partial or full replacement), suitable and cost-effective replacement products are identified, and relevant stakeholders are involved in the decision outcome.

When the building development approval has been issued, we will provide construction oversight using qualified construction project management teams with specific experience in cladding remediation projects.

Your cladding safety one-stop shop

Safer Buildings Group offers the full suite of services for compliance with the new regulation by buildings that are subject to its provisions – that is, buildings of Classes 2 to 9, of Type A or Type B construction, approved between 1 January 1984 but before October 2018.